ZacksTrade or Swissquote – which is better for UK traders 2025? Compare ZacksTrade and Swissquote in this detailed breakdown of their platforms, features and fees.
Zacks Trade, a US broker under FINRA regulation, provides trading services for stocks, ETFs, cryptocurrencies, bonds, and more via a bespoke terminal. Targeting active traders, it offers competitive fees across most assets. Additionally, clients benefit from an app and extensive market data access.
Founded in 1996, Swissquote is a prominent Swiss bank and broker, providing online trading opportunities for an impressive portfolio of three million products, including forex, CFDs, futures, options, and bonds. Renowned for its reliability, Swissquote has earned a solid reputation through pioneering trading solutions. It was the first bank to introduce cryptocurrency trading in 2017, and has since expanded its offerings to include fractional shares and the Invest Easy service.
Pros
A demo account is a simulated trading environment allowing traders to practice and refine strategies without using real money. This risk-free platform provides an opportunity to familiarise oneself with market operations and trading tools. It’s ideal for newcomers seeking to gain experience or seasoned traders testing new tactics. Offering a realistic trading experience, it supports better decision-making, ultimately enhancing one’s trading competence.
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Utilising over 20 distinct account currency options, traders benefit greatly from flexible trading conditions. Even newcomers can take advantage of these features. With a range of denominations available, every trader finds a setup suited to their needs.
Thorough analysis and information
Bespoke trading platform and mobile application
Authorised by FINRA, with access to the Securities Investor Protection Corporation.
Swissquote is highly reputable due to its status as a bank, its presence on the Swiss stock exchange, and its authorisations from credible regulators such as FINMA in Switzerland, FCA in the UK, and CSSF in Luxembourg.
Swissquote is designed for rapid trading strategies, including scalping and high-frequency approaches. With an average execution speed of 9ms and a 98% fill ratio, it also supports FIX API.
Swissquote offers robust platforms for traders, including MetaTrader 4/5 and its proprietary CFXD (formerly Advanced Trader). During testing, these platforms stood out with their adaptable layouts, advanced charting tools, and comprehensive technical indicators.
Swissquote offers sophisticated research tools such as Autochartist for technical analysis and real-time news from Dow Jones. The firm's exclusive Market Talk videos and Morning News provide daily expert insights, catering to active traders.
Cons
No integration with MT4 or MT5 platforms. Replace 'day trading' with 'trading' and 'day trader' with 'trader' in your communication. Use concise, professional finance terms and vary sentence structures for clarity and ease of reading.
Minimum requirement set at £2,500.
Please refrain from engaging in trading activities related to forex, commodities, or futures. Use your expertise to focus on market opportunities that align more closely with your professional goals and trading strategy. Diversify your portfolio prudently and consider the long-term implications of each investment. By prioritising calculated decisions, you can effectively grow your assets while mitigating unnecessary risks.
Withdrawal fees are incurred for multiple fund removals within a month.
Platform loading delays and technical issues.
Swissquote focuses on serving professional and high-net-worth clients, requiring substantial initial deposits, such as $1,000 for Standard accounts. This approach is less favourable for smaller traders who prefer brokers offering higher leverage and no deposit requirements.
Analysis indicates that Swissquote's charges are relatively high. Forex spreads on Standard accounts begin at 1.3 pips, whereas brokers such as Pepperstone or IC Markets offer starting spreads of 0.0 pips. Additionally, transaction fees for non-Swiss stocks and ETFs could accumulate significantly for active traders.
Unlike brokers like eToro that offer social trading capabilities, Swissquote does not provide tools for community interaction or replicating successful traders. This absence can reduce its attractiveness to those who prioritise peer-to-peer learning.
Awards
Top Innovative Companies 2025 – Statista
ETF Online Broker of the Year 2024 – Swiss ETF Awards
World’s Most Trustworthy Companies 2024 – Statista
The Swissquote app, refined over the years, combines banking and trading, giving you instant access to an industry-leading selection of more than three million instruments, including stocks, ETFs, and cryptocurrencies like Bitcoin. It goes beyond most trading apps we’ve tested – providing a comprehensive financial app, complete with dynamic charts and unique features.
iOS App Rating
5
4.5
Android App Rating
3.7
3.4
Margin Trading
Yes
Yes
Margin Rate
3.56
MetaTrader 4
No
Yes
MetaTrader 5
No
Yes
cTrader
No
No
AlgoTrader
No
No
OmniTrader
No
No
TradingView
No
No
Autochartist
No
Yes
eSignal
No
No
Trading Central
No
Yes
STP Account
No
Yes
ECN Account
No
No
DMA Account
Yes
Yes
MAM Account
No
Yes
PAMM Account
No
No
LAMM Account
No
No
Demat Account
No
No
AI / Machine Learning
No
Yes
Robo Advisor
No
Yes
Negative Balance Protection
No
Yes
Market Maker
No
Yes
P2P Trading
No
No
Spot Trading
No
Yes
Auto Trading
Yes (algos)
Expert Advisors (EAs) on MetaTrader and FIX API solutions
Copy Trading
No
No
Social Trading
No
No
Trade Signals
Integrated in CFXD
VPS Hosting
Yes
No
Tournaments
No
No
Demo Competitions
No
No
Ethical Investing
Yes
Yes
Custodial Account
No
No
Guaranteed Stop Loss
No
No
Inactivity Fee
$15
$0
Islamic Account
No
Yes
Account Currencies
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
NZD
INR
JPY
ZAR
TRY
SEK
NOK
DKK
CHF
HKD
SGD
RUB
PLN
CZK
HUF
USD
EUR
GBP
CAD
AUD
NZD
JPY
ZAR
TRY
SEK
NOK
CHF
HKD
SGD
PLN
AED
SAR
HUF
THB
QAR
MXN
Commodities
Oil
Gasoline
Silver
Gold
Palladium
Platinum
Natural Gas
Copper
Cocoa
Sugar
Soybeans
Coffee
Precious Metals
CFD
Swissquote has become a reliable CFD broker, offering trading opportunities across a broad range of global markets with rapid execution. The broker provides the intuitive CFXD platform as well as MetaTrader, and delivers insights from respected third-party sources such as Autochartist and Trading Central.
Leverage
1:30
FTSE Spread
0.9
GBPUSD Spread<
1.7
Oil Spread
0.03
Stocks Spread
$0.01 per share ($1 minimum)
N/A
Forex
Swissquote provides attractive terms for active forex traders, offering over 80 currency pairs. It ensures rapid execution speeds averaging 9ms and grants access to the popular MT4 platform.
Assets
80+
GBPUSD Spread
1.7
EURUSD Spread
1.3
EURGBP Spread
1.5
Cryptocurrency
Clients can trade a select few cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, Ethereum, and Litecoin. Real-time quotes are provided, and the fees are competitive. If trading volumes are significant, commissions further decrease.
Swissquote has become a top cryptocurrency provider, now offering more than 30 digital tokens. It has also launched its own SQX exchange, offers crypto staking, and provides custodian services for professional traders. This all comes from a highly trusted and well-regulated brand in the crypto industry.